RESIDENTS and shopkeepers in Halesworth suffered a power cut for more than three hours today after an underground cable was damaged.EDF Energy confirmed that 1,823 customers had been affected when contractors working for another company damaged the high voltage cable at 10.

RESIDENTS and shopkeepers in Halesworth suffered a power cut for more than three hours today after an underground cable was damaged.

EDF Energy confirmed that 1,823 customers had been affected when contractors working for another company damaged the high voltage cable at 10.47am in Hillside Way.

Engineers managed to restore power by 1.07pm.

A spokesman for EDF Energy said: “We are committed to providing a reliable supply of electricity and, in a bid to reduce the number of power interruptions caused by contractors damaging underground cables, actively encourage any firm undertaking work to contact us in advance for advice and free cable locating maps to help them avoid our cables.

“This is vital for their own safety, as well as for the security of electricity supplies.”